UPrep’s engineering curriculum has grown since the school’s founding 50 years ago. Not only does UPrep offer Engineering 1 and 2 classes in the Upper School, but Director of College Counseling and Student Services Kelly Herrington works to connect students with the Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) program and the Architecture-Construction-Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program of America.

These programs provide students with the opportunity to understand the practical applications of the engineering and aerospace industries. Students work on hypothetical projects and learn more about the day-to-day reality of these professions. “This allows them to really discern if they like the lived experience of these fields,” Kelly said. “Sometimes students like the cerebral part of a profession but the reality of the work in daily practice is very different. It is nice for students to figure this out before fully committing to a field in college.”

Ellie Assadi ’24, currently a sophomore at Cornell University, participated in the ACE Mentor Program while a student at UPrep and attributes her early knowledge of engineering to this program. ACE exposed her to engineering and architecture materials, as well as the interdisciplinary focus of the industry. “Having experience with base level engineering concepts early on gave me an advantage in higher level classes,” she said. “For example, I knew what stress and strain were when they were first mentioned in my college level course.”

Ellie also received a scholarship through ACE, propelling her into her time at Cornell. 

UPrep seniors Niam P. and Sonya C. both took advantage of WAS. The program features two parts. In part one, about 300 students take an online course to learn about aerospace engineering and research. In part two, about 120 students are selected to take part in a summer residency in which they join a mock mission integration team. 

Niam took WAS’s online class his junior year, where he created 3D models in class components focused on space travel, airplane mechanics, and rocket operations. The course required Niam to think critically about the work he was doing and how it applies more broadly.

The course concluded with a final project of Niam’s specific interest—rocket propulsion and turbo pumps—to culminate the work he did online. He said the program was a great intro to aerospace and engineering skills and will connect to his college-level classes.

Sonya participated in part one of WAS during her junior year and part two during the summer before her senior year. She was the communications specialist for her summer team, ensuring that their budget, ethics, and rules were clearly communicated across all workspaces. 

“It made me realize how possible it is for us to go to Mars, but also how difficult it is,” she said.

Sonya found immense value in the program’s emphasis on the interdisciplinary nature of engineering, including areas such as communication, teamwork, and collaboration. 

“WAS is a great opportunity to meet people your age in Washington interested in the same topic,” she said. “We also met an astronaut, made professional connections, and toured companies including Blue Origin and Boeing.” 

Connecting students to these programs is one part of UPrep’s expansive college counseling resources that allow UPrep students to keep informed of all the possibilities that await them beyond campus. WAS and ACE prepare students for their lives after UPrep, whether it be deciding what to study in college or building the next mission to Mars. Kelly believes programs like this help create a well-rounded education for students. “Colleges are looking for students who seek out ways to explore areas of academic passion,” he said.

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